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TORONTO, Dec. 27, 2013 /CNW/ - Hydro One reports that 98% of its customers affected by the ice storm have had their power restored. Crews are still working restoring individual outages and full power back up and running to all customers affected by the ice storm is expected to be later tonight and early tomorrow morning.

Currently, the most impacted areas are listed below:

"The final mile is the slowest and hardest part of any restoration job for our customers and for our employees," said Carm Marcello, President and CEO of Hydro One Inc. "Crews are going house-to-house right now, in many cases doing repair jobs that only restore a single customer. They will not stop until all power is restored."

Hydro One currently has more than 1,000 workers restoring power, more than one employee for every five customers without power.

"Our customers have shown tremendous patience and resilience. I want to thank them, as well as all utility workers from across Ontario who have worked through the holiday season to return life to normal for the people without power," Marcello added. "It's been an enormous challenge."

Hydro One crews from eastern Ontario began work in Scarborough today, joining an army of utility workers in the City of Toronto where 28,000 customers remain without power. As Hydro One completes its restoration effort, crews will be made available to areas that are still working towards total restoration.

To report a power outage:

Call 1-800-434-1235 to report a power outage, fallen tree hazard or emergency (24 hours).

Checking for Electrical Damage After a Storm and Arranging for Repairs

After a storm, check around and in your home for potential electrical damage. Remember, if there is serious damage to your home's connection to the electricity system, your utility may not be able to safely restore power to your home. You will have to arrange for a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) to make repairs.  Please check the Ontario Safety Authority website at:

www.esasafe.com/consumers/safety-at-home/safety-tips-for-after-a-storm

Outage information:

To check the status of a power outage in your area check the Hydro One Storm Centre at www.hydroone.com or download the Hydro One app.

What to do in a power outage:

If the power system in your area is affected by bad weather, be sure to stay clear of any fallen power lines. If you spot a fallen line, keep at least 10 metres back, even if it does not appear to be live. Report it to the police and call Hydro One at 1-800-434-1235. Safety is at the core of everything Hydro One employees do. Not only are our crews trained in First Aid, every Hydro One vehicle is equipped with a First Aid kit.

The Office of the Fire Marshal offers the following safety tips:

• Electrically-connected smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms will not work when the power is out unless they have battery back-ups. Make sure your home has battery-operated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Everyone should know how to get out immediately if there is a fire. Plan and practice your escape plan before emergencies happen.
• Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns instead of candles or hurricane lamps. If using candles, place them in a secure holder and cover them with a glass chimney, away from children and pets.
• Propane and charcoal barbecues are for outdoor use only. Do not bring them inside.
• Purchase generators with recognized approval labels. Make sure the unit has proper connection receptacles and circuit breakers.
• Portable generators should only be used outdoors and carefully located to ensure that exhaust fumes do not enter the home. Allow the generator to cool before refuelling. Refuel the generator outside, following the manufacturer's instructions. Store fuel for the generator in approved containers, outside the home.
• Use only portable space heaters that have been designed for indoor use and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Provide adequate ventilation by opening a window slightly while the heater is in use. Before refuelling, turn off the heater, wait for it to cool and take the heater outside to refuel.
• Make sure electric stove elements and small appliances are OFF or unplugged to prevent fires from occurring when the electricity is restored.

Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably and responsibly to homes and businesses across the province of Ontario and owns and operates Ontario's 29,000 km high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 123,000 km low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.3 million end-use customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the Province of Ontario.

SOURCE Hydro One Inc.